Then he gestured to the unmarked glass bottle winking at Randidly But when there is no good tequila we make do with what we have Do not drink too much more friend overexposure to this swill is known to cause blindness
Randidly shook his head amused He liked Karlito and his wild stories and exaggerated jokes He was loud and abrasive in the kitchen but Randidly could tell that he was a good person with an honest heart
It was Randidly reflected tragic that Karlito was born in this time where good people like him died like flies
They joked and laughed for a while longer Randidly feeling strangely at ease even as a part of him nagged to get back to the potion recipes But before he could leave their manager came hurrying back out the back door sweating Oh thank god you two are still here I’ll pay double no triple if you stay and make one more meal
But the kitchen has already been cleaned Do you want us to go through everything again Karlito rumbled his eyes narrowing
The manager raised his hands in a placating gesture No No I’ll handle all of that But a very important client came and well for her there are no such thing as hours’ Please
As soon as the manager agreed to let them off without cleaning Karlito’s cheer returned
Tying his apron back on he called over his shoulder So who’s the big wig
The manager’s face became starry eyed It’s Raina
Derek Quinn had been a truck driver before the system had come to the world But when everything changed he had crashed his truck into a column of giant mutant ants and received the Exterminator I path he had no idea what to believe
Perhaps even more difficult to handle was the ants subsequent counter attack swarming him and biting at him ripping off his left arm before other drivers on the highway saw his plight and came forward to beat them off of him
He still remembered that extended hand and opening his eyes to find a portly man smiling down at him his glasses splattered with blood from that ants Hey there buddy I’m Anthony You’re gonna be okay
Luckily enough Anthony was a nurse and had managed to bandage his wounds enough to keep Derek alive Unlike most people who were mutilated in the aftermath of the system’s arrival Derek didn’t fall into a stupor giving up
He got angry
And that anger had served him well He had gotten up to the Exterminator VI path cutting his way through the ants But there were still so damn many of them
Derek spared a glance for the group of 12 people that trailed after them wearing a mismatch of bone armor and fur most of them holding swords but their leader holding a spear The other woman seemed to possess no weapon at all but just walked forward in the middle of the group yawning
He was slightly depressed when Anthony had called him away from the front line to escort this group and was now even more disappointed Even with a class how could this group change the tide of the fight
After all the problem wasn’t talent It was simply
They rounded a bend in the road and the battle stretched before them almost endless Thousands upon thousands of ants marched forward rushing to attack the intruders These hills had been empty 8 hours ago but now the bodies were piled higher than a person in some places
So you see Derek said sarcastically A small squad like you would be perfect for this operation
Alana the leader nodded seriously and turned to the weaponless woman and what seemed like the vice commander So
Doable The vice leader commented
Child’s play The weaponless one said cracking her neck
Alana turned back to Derek Alright take us to the front We will handle the rest
Chapter 76
Derek stayed back on top of the hill scowling down at them as the group proceeded to walk forward He had to admit that they were disciplined far above the level of even the regulars of the Freedom Fighters as they settled into a crouch and moved in formation but how much could a class really help in a huge melee like this The numbers were stacked against them
Like a ghost a tall orange haired figure appeared next to Derek He spared him a glance It was Lucifer the only man in the Freedom Fighters that Derek had no confidence of being able to stand against He was also the 2nd in command of the Freedom Fighters in all but name leading the most powerful battalion
Is that them Lucifer grunted wiping blood from his sabers
Derek nodded Let’s see if classes are really worth all this trouble
Randidly’s hackles rose at the mention of Raina but then he shrugged She wouldn’t even be near him she would just wait out for the food But when they walked into the kitchen there she was sitting up on the counter her legs dangling Next to her a serious looking woman with pistols strapped to her waist stood arms crossed
Oh Raina I’m such a huge fan It is such an honor for you to taste my delectable cuisine Karlito said bowing
Raina rewarded him with a sunny smile Actually I’m just peckish Matilda here told me that her favorite dish was fish tacos and when it came to fresh food this was the place to come
Matilda who Randidly assumed was the guard just glowered looking excited about nothing fish tacos or otherwise
Naturally Raina’s gaze moved past Karlito to Randidly who followed him through the door into the kitchen Randidly looked towards the ground feeling a small urge to smile and suppressing it Mental Strength rose another level and the urge dropped to almost nothing
Randidly sighed his relief and began to move towards the supply freezer to get the ingredients for fish tacos He began running through the list in his head He would need
Excuse me were you at my concert last night Back stage
Randidly paused turning slowly Raina had hopped down off the counter and was studying him something strange in her eyes
Nodding Randidly said Yes I was
The silence grew slowly their gazes locked
Then Karlito chuckled uneasily Honestly who wasn’t at your concert Ms Raina It was the event of the year I wish I could get a recording your music speaks to me
Not everyone was back stage And not everyone can just look at me with such mild eyes while I’m smiling at them not since the system came to this world Raina said her voice light In fact I don’t think I have met anyone that can Not even that zombie Lucifer What’s your name
To Randidly’s surprise there was no power or skill in the question No influence from the system pressed against him urging him to answer It was just filled with curiosity and a yearning And most of all loneliness
After an extremely long pause Randidly answered my name is Randidly Ghosthound
One of the great reliefs of Randidly’s life in regards to the system was that no longer would his name earn him strange looks Raina nodded as if this was the most natural thing in the world
Well Mr Ghosthound She said the corners of her mouth quirking upward Would you like to have dinner with me
As Derek Quinn watched standing next to the silent Lucifer he watched as the squad picked up speed moving through to the front lines of the battle Then the last of the Freedom Fighter’s stepped to the side gladly willing to let someone else hold back the swarm for a while
With a crash they smashed into the ants
Derek froze
He had been expecting a crash but they simply slid into the enemy lines barely slowing at all His increased perception let him barely glimpse as each one of the 10 shield holders stabbed forward smoothly with a short sword each time accurately driving their sword into the skulls of the ants
The bodies were shoved to the side and trampled on the squad barely breaking stride
As they penetrated deeper into the ant lines more swarmed towards them recognizing this new threat but the spearwoman simply stabbed into the ants approaching from the back with ruthless efficiency breaking the ants legs and leaving them useless
But what was most shocking was the weaponless woman
Magic user Lucifer mumbled next to Derek his tone wondering